During the 1960s, Paulsen was performing in folk clubs as a comic guitarist when the Smothers Brothers hired him to appear on their TV comedy show. He became famous for his spoofed run for the presidency in 1968—a candidacy he declared again and again, for five elections. He won an Emmy in 1968 for his performance on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967–70). His TV specials include Pat Paulsen for President (1968) and Pat Paulsen's Greatest TV Bits (1993).